OLIVER DUAH
Dr. Oliver Duah (pronounced “DOO-uh”) was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa. He began his higher education as a nursing student at the University of Ghana, Legon, then transferred to UWG in his junior year, after moving to the United States in 2009. Dr. Duah earned his B.S. and master’s degrees in nursing at West Georgia, and his doctorate at Augusta University. He believes that his experience as a chemistry workshop leader during his undergraduate days at UWG contributed greatly to his success as a nursing educator. Dr. Duah lives in Villa Rica with his wife and three sons. His favorite pastimes include bike riding on the Greenbelt and hiking and camping in the North Georgia mountains.
Hanging out at the Hays Mill Park with his son Elton.
Ziplining in Costa Rica while on a study abroad trip with UWG nursing students.
Dr. Duah (left) with some middle-school friends in Ghana.
I was drawn to nursing because of its core values of caring and compassion, but I now enjoy it because I can combine caring, spirituality, and education in my current role as a nurse educator. I find satisfaction and beauty in the multiple “Aha” moments in class when concepts finally click, and students can connect what they are learning in the classroom with what they see in the practice setting.
Dr. Oliver Duah is one of those rare individuals with unlimited potential who will shine no matter what the situation. He is a transformational leader, whether he is leading from behind the scenes or leading in a formal capacity. Having Oliver in the School of Nursing makes all of us better faculty and better people. His intelligence, innovation, and boots-on-the-ground guidance are superb.
Jenny B. Schuessler, PhD, RN, CNE Dean and Professor Tanner Health System School of Nursing
My path to nursing was not a direct one. I didn’t always know that I wanted to be a nurse. I was very adventurous during my childhood. Passionately drawn to nature, I loved nursing plants and animals back to health. Many in my family believed that I had a gift for pastoral ministry because of my nurturing skills. So, at one point, I considered attending the seminary after high school. But I loved biology and chemistry, so I also thought it would be wonderful to become a physician or chemist. Then I read a book titled The Ministry of Healing, which pushed me more toward healthcare. My decision to become a nurse was cemented when I broke both wrists in a skating accident. I found that the nurses at the hospital were more compassionate than the physicians, and I wanted to be like the nurses. I discovered that nursing people to health requires more than physical care. It also requires meeting the spiritual, psychological, and social needs of those who are ill.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for the profound impact that Dr. Duah has had on my academic journey. His unwavering support, insightful guidance, and dedication to my growth has been invaluable. Throughout his courses, he not only imparted knowledge but also instilled in me the importance of critical thinking and resilience in the field of nursing.
Elizabeth Kaba B.S. in Nursing, 2023
With an area of about 92,000 square miles, Ghana is approximately the size of Oregon. The country’s population of around 33 million places it between California and Texas—the U.S. states with the most people. Accra, the nation’s capital, is famous for its Independence Square—the second largest city square in the world after Tiananmen Square in Beijing.
Ghana’s official religions are Christianity and Islam, and its state language is English. Dr. Duah grew up speaking English and Twi (pronounced “twee”), one of the languages of the Akan people, the largest ethnic group in Ghana.
Hiking on Kennesaw Mountain in 2013.
Two of my favorite places to visit in Ghana are the Aburi Botanical Gardens in the east and the Kankum National Park in the central region of the country. The gardens are breathtakingly beautiful and the park has trails and canopy walkways that run across dense forests, where visitors can marvel at native plants and animals.
Ghanaians are marked by their kindheartedness and warmth. Despite the poverty and lack of resources, Ghanaians have remained peaceful despite political turmoil. This sets Ghana apart from many of its neighboring countries. Besides the gift of peace, Ghana is also blessed with a beautiful landscape of mountains, lakes, and flatlands. We also pride ourselves on rich cultural diversity. What I miss the most about Ghana is the communal mindset, at least from where I grew up. I also miss playing soccer on the sandy beach and hiking through the forests.
I like the Ghana highlife music from the 1970s and ’80s. The songs from that era are poetic in nature, involve storytelling, and use both modern and traditional instruments. My favorite artist is Akwasi Ampofo Adjei (I am biased because he is my close relative from the same town).
Follow the QR Code to hear a sample of highlife music by Adjei and his Kumapim Royals Band.
Dr. Duah’s favorite Ghanaian dish is banku with okra stew. The banku is a boiled dumpling made from corn and cassava doughs. Okra stew mixes a tomato base with chopped okra, spinach, red bell pepper, onion, and spices including garlic and paprika— although many additional ingredients (such as crab and chicken) appear in preparations throughout Ghana. Dr. Duah, however, is a vegetarian, so his personal recipe includes no meat.
Considered the founder of modern nursing, she volunteered at a military hospital during the Crimean War (1853-6), where she watched British soldiers die less often from their battle wounds than from diseases caused by unsanitary conditions. To ward off typhus, cholera, and dysentery, she called for better hygiene, including regular handwashing with soap (not a common practice at the time). For decades, her Notes on Nursing guided students in the craft.
a. Florence Henderson
b. Florence Nightingale
c. Johanna Keats
d. Shelley Skylark
e. None of the above
The first African American to earn a nursing license, she studied at the New England Hospital for Women and Children, graduating in 1879 (one of only four out of forty-two candidates to complete the program). Due to widespread discrimination in public nursing, she chose to work as a private nurse, serving in the profession for over forty years. In 1911, she became the director of the Howard Orphanage and Industrial School for black children on Long Island.
a. Harriet Tubman
b. Edith Cavell
c. Mary Eliza Mahoney
d. Susie King Taylor
e. Lillian Wald
Nicknamed the “Florence Nightingale of America” and “Angel of the Battlefield,” this native of Massachusetts served as a nurse in the Civil War and later founded the American Red Cross.
a. Jane Addams
b. Susan B. Anthony
c. Elizabeth Cady Stanton
d. Clara Barton
e. Eleanor Roosevelt
In “The Wound Dresser,” this pillar of American poetry and Civil War nurse writes, “From the stump of the arm, the amputated hand, / I undo the clotted lint, remove the slough, wash off the matter and blood” . . . “I am faithful, I do not give out,” . . . “Returning, resuming, I thread my way through the hospitals, / The hurt and wounded I pacify with soothing hand, / I sit by the restless all the dark night, some are so young . . .”
a. Henry David Thoreau
b. Ralph Waldo Emerson
c. Ralph Waldo Ellison
d. T. S. Eliot
e. None of the above.
Born in Jamaica to a free black “doctress” and a Scottish lieutenant in the British Army, this nurse received a hybrid education in medical care. From her mother, she learned the healing powers of Caribbean and African herbal medicines; from the British military doctors who often stayed at her family’s boarding house, she absorbed European strategies for treating disease.
a. Mary Breckinridge
b. Mary Todd Lincoln
c. Dorothea Dix
d. Margaret Sanger
e. Mary Seacole
In an 1843 report to the Massachusetts State Legislature, this champion of mentally ill patients and prisoners wrote, “I proceed, Gentlemen, briefly to call your attention to the present state of Insane Persons confined within this Commonwealth, in cages, stalls, pens! Chained, naked, beaten with rods, and lashed into obedience.”
a. Dorothea Dix
b. Linda Richards
c. Edith Cavell
d. Mabel Keaton Staupers
e. None of the above.
Answers:
b. Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), c. Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926), d. Clara Barton (1821-1912), e. Walt Whitman (1819-1892), e. Mary Seacole (1805-1881), a. Dorothea Dix (1802-1887)
How do nursing and healthcare compare in the U.S. and your home country of Ghana?
The landscape of the Ghana healthcare system is evolving. Healthcare delivery has been uneven and provided by a mixture of government, religious, and philanthropic nongovernment organizations. The Ghana Health Service, which acts as the regulatory body for healthcare systems, was established in 1996 and overseen by the central government’s arm, the Ministry of Health. Many private clinics and hospitals have sprung up in recent years, but these are concentrated mainly in the major cities, leaving the rural areas still as health deserts.
Compared to the U.S., the healthcare system in Ghana centers on primary and preventive care. There is a huge emphasis on public health. Vaccinations have a high success rate. However, the health-insurance market is not well developed, especially in the private sector, and as such, many non-governmental hospitals run on a fee-for-service basis. Thus, people without financial means may delay or not receive vital care.
How would you say today’s nurses are handling the aftermath of the COVID pandemic? They had to grapple with so much pressure and stress and fear. Are they holding up?
Undoubtedly, there has been a paradigm shift in nursing after the pandemic. The inefficiencies and lack of preparedness in our healthcare delivery systems for the pandemic have scarred many nurses while driving a sizable portion out of the profession. We have witnessed early retirements and even a low enrollment in nursing programs. However, nurses have shown throughout history that they are resourceful and resilient. Nurses can adapt to changing needs. I could not be happier that nurses today are well situated to meet patients’ needs after COVID.
What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you when you worked as a nurse? How about the scariest?
While working in the orthopedic unit, I was helping three nurses transfer an older patient from the stretcher to an inpatient bed. As we lifted the patient, there was a loud fart. The patient, who was supposedly in pain, started pointing fingers at the four of us, asking, “Is it you?” We all looked dazed and embarrassed, thinking it was one of us. Then he erupted in laughter and pointed to himself, “It was me.” He made the sound with his lips. I still laugh each time I remember the incident. I will add that he was a fun patient to care for because he cracked jokes during his entire stay on the unit.
The scariest moment in my practice as a bedside nurse was my first code blue while in the charge-nurse role. I had previously witnessed and participated in resuscitation efforts during code blues but had never been the one telling people what to do. The patient on whom we performed
CPR was a gentleman who had undergone surgery and was supposed to be going home the next morning. I had prepared all the discharge paperwork for the morning crew and was not expecting the night to be eventful. In the middle of the night, he got up to use the bathroom and became unresponsive. Though we revived him, and he survived, I will never forget the hard pounding of my heart.
If a student asked you, “Why should I consider nursing?” then what would you say?
Rather than providing a direct answer, I may ask a few questions to any student considering nursing. Do you show initiative and are you driven? Do you enjoy being on a mission? Are you looking for a purpose and a deeper meaning in life? Are you passionate about improving the lives of others? Do you enjoy exploring innovative ideas or collaborating with others? Are you seeking a secure career within which you can reach new frontiers? Nursing would be a good fit if a student answered yes to one or more of these questions. Nurses have the desire to make the world a better place. It is an altruistic profession that centers on compassion. Despite its demanding nature, nursing is very rewarding and satisfying. The different roles and diverse specialty areas for nursing make it a dynamic profession for a wide variety of hard-working students.
What do you see as the future of the nursing program at UWG?
Healthcare as we see it is changing. Our program has come a long way. There have been curricular changes to meet the extensive training needed for our graduates to function in a highly complex healthcare environment. However, there is more to be done. When I look at the trajectory of our nursing program here at UWG, I see it growing and transforming into a program that trains nurses who are committed to their personal and professional development. Generation Zers, who form the majority of students enrolled in colleges today, have different academic challenges and expectations. For example, they value technological advancement, flexibility, autonomy, collaboration, and feedback. Upon graduating from college, they will enter a healthcare environment rapidly shifting to meet the changing needs of patients. Nonetheless, our caring philosophy places us in a unique position to meet the needs of our current and future students. We understand that future students in the program will come with an entirely different set of skills, challenges, and expectations. We also understand the impact of globalization. Therefore, we are positioning ourselves with a curriculum that embraces technology and varying teaching modes. I envision our students being the “Best from the West”—pacesetters who champion the search for innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Duah (far left) at the groundbreaking for the new Nursing Building.
Timeline of Tanner Health System School of Nursing
1974
start of UWG Nursing Program, offering associate’s degree (ASN)
1987
start of bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN)
2008
Nursing established as a School, a separate academic unit
2012
start of doctoral program in nursing (EdD)
first Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Nursing Faculty Loan Program (NFLP) grant received
2015
9,000-square-foot simulation and lab suite built at the Newnan Center
2022
HRSA NFLP grant awarding continues with over $275,000 in federal funding
2002
start of master’s degree in nursing (MSN)
2010-2011
significant gifts received from healthcare and community partners
• Piedmont Newnan Hospital Board
• The WellStar System
• Piedmont Newnan Hospital
2013
significant gift from the Tanner Health System to name the school and promote an academic practice partnership
64,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Nursing building in Carrollton
2019-2023
designated a Center of Excellence by the National League of Nursing
Résumé: Oliver Duah
Scholarship
Duah, O., & Jonassen, S. (2024). “ISBAR Communication Guideline: An Innovative Strategy to Facilitate Civility Among Pre-Licensure Nursing Students.” School of Nursing, University of West Georgia.
Duah, O., Young, L., de La Serre, C., Xu, H., Zhu, H., Garcia-Torres, R., & Lee, J. (2024). “Strategies in Writing and Evaluating Gut Microbiota Studies.” College of Nursing, Augusta University. Under review.
Duah, O. (2022) Gut Microbiota Profiles in Heart Failure Patients Before and After Cardiac Rehabilitation, Ph.D. Dissertation, Augusta University, College of Nursing.
Duah, O., Young, L., de La Serre, C., Xu, H., & Zhu, H. (2024). “Associations Between Changes in Gut Microbiota and Functional Capacity Before and After Cardiac Rehabilitation.” College of Nursing, Augusta University. Under review.
Recent Presentations
Duah, O., & Schuessler, J. (2024). “Promoting Civility Among Pre-Licensure Nursing Students Using a Standardized Communication Tool.” Georgia Association of Nurse Educators Conference.
Duah, O., Zhu, H., Chen, L., Dong, Y., & Young, L. (2021). “A Cross-link Between Dietary Sodium, Gut Microbiome, and Heart Failure.” Harvard Chain Microbiome in Public Health Symposium.
Duah, O. (2021). “Gut Microbiota Composition in Heart Failure Patients.” Augusta University Graduate Research Day Symposium. Augusta, GA.
Awards and Recognitions
2023 J. Owen Moore Faculty Award, University of West Georgia Alumni Association
2017 Master of Science in Nursing Student Award, University of West Georgia
Focus, vol. 5, Spring 2024
Credits: Cover and internal photos by Julia Mothersole, unless otherwise noted; designed by Kayla Marston; printed by University of West Georgia Print Services. Additional photos and text courtesy of Oliver Duah.
Tanner Health System School of Nursing
Caring Is What We Do
Award-winning nursing facilities at our Carrollton campus and UWG Newnan provide state-ofthe-art laboratories and simulation suites. Our care-centered curriculum and world-class faculty prepare the clinicians, leaders, researchers, and educators who will make a difference in the current and evolving healthcare needs of a global community.
Caring is what we do at the Tanner Health System School of Nursing. We empower our nurse graduates to provide quality care, education, and leadership in healthcare and educational systems.
Learn more about becoming part of the Nursing pack by visiting westga.edu/nursing.
The Focus series highlights UWG faculty and staff across the university and celebrates the wealth of contributions they make in serving the mission of our institution.